Have you ever wanted to attend a Victorian Christmas celebration? Well now you can, in Once Upon a Christmas Feast you not only get an original story, but menus, recipes, favorite Victorian Christmas stories and songs. What's in this jam-packed Victorian Christmas celebration of a tome? First: an original Once Upon a Wedding short story. "Once Upon a Fairytale Christmas." The Duchess of Keystone is an unconventional woman who loves fairytales and happily ever after endings. When it comes to Christmas, she loves nothing better than to have her family gathered at her estate enjoying Christmas joy, food, games, and entertainment. This year, her niece Margause arrives to view the wonder of a fairytale Christmas celebration. At three, Margause loves to slip into the library of the ducal estate, where her parents fell in love, and peruse the books she hopes to read one day soon.Observant and advanced for her age, Margause notices that her aunts and uncles are not as happy as they should be about her Aunt Kate’s upcoming Twelfth Night wedding to a handsome, charming Irish rogue. She also doesn’t understand why her mother’s former governess Katherine tries so hard to cheer up Scroogish Sir Robert. It seems obvious to Margause that Sir Robert would need Mr. Dicken’s three ghosts to make him feel any Christmas joy. But then, what else does the Duchess of Keystone offer everyone, but a chance at a fairytale Christmas, where miracles happen around every corner. Next: An Appendix of traditional Victorian Christmas stories and essays by Charles Dickens...what? You didn't know "A Christmas Carol" wasn't his only Christmas story? Nope. Dickens, along with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, are actually responsible for making Christmas the holiday we celebrate today. You'll also find it handy to have the lyrics to several Christmas favorite songs, so you can make sure to lead your family in rounds of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" without messing up the lyrics. All in all, Once Upon a Christmas Feast is your guide to celebrating a very Victorian Christmas.

ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS KISS is a sexy, romantic holiday e-novella, set in the world of Manda Collins's bestselling Wicked Widows trilogy. When Sir Lucien Blakemore arrives at his cousin's estate for a week-long Christmas party, he's shocked to see Miss Winifred Nightingale among the other guests. Employed by his neighbor back in Yorkshire, the governess with the lovely eyes has always seemed off limits, but she's visiting here as a guest—and there's nothing like a little mistletoe to make the spirits bright... Miss Winifred Nightingale never dreamed a holiday visit with her sister would lead to both ladies spending Christmas as the local lord's guests. But the big surprise is when she finds the handsome Sir Lucien Blakemore staying there too. The attraction between them is undeniable, but will an old nemesis and a party guest bent on mischief make their first kiss under the mistletoe their last?

Step into a world of enchantment and wonder with Once Upon a Christmas, a delightful collection of 40 heartwarming short stories specially crafted for young readers. This magical book takes children on a mesmerizing journey through the holiday season, brimming with festive spirit, joy, and the magic of Christmas. Explore the cozy landscapes of snowy villages, magical realms, and Santa's workshop as the characters discover the joys of giving, the spirit of togetherness, and the beauty of spreading love during the most wonderful time of the year. Among these captivating stories are a few special gems that take readers on a journey to Lapland's enchanting Korvatunturi, the home of the Finnish Santa Claus, Joulupukki. Discover the fascinating traditions and myths surrounding Joulupukki, also known as the "Yule Goat," and his extraordinary adventures as he prepares for Christmas Eve. These heartwarming stories will spark the imaginations of children and instill valuable life lessons that will stay with them for a lifetime.

Can the magic of the Christmas season lead to a fairy tale happy ending? When Cara Roberts’ family plans an extra special Christmas to support her after her broken engagement, she wants nothing to do with the holiday. After learning her brother and his wife can’t use the cottage vacation they purchased, she impulsively escapes to an English cottage in the bucolic village of Bakewell, despite having no idea where Bakewell is. Lord Alec Sherbourne of Langley Park is no fan of Christmas, but following in his parents’ footsteps, he annually donates his impressive 19th century country home to be decorated and opened on December weekends as a community fundraiser. This year, Christmas is complicated by the arrival of a pretty American woman who booked a cottage on his estate—only the cottage is occupied. Forced to take her under his vast roof, he’s dismayed when a storm and frozen pipes keep her with him longer than he’d anticipated. Even more worrisome, her presence is making it feel like Christmas for the first time in forever. As these two holiday housemates become friends, is there something more in the Christmas air?

Mother-to-be Tommi Fairchild needed to take care of her baby and her bistro. So when Max Callahan offered to invest in her restaurant, it was the answer to a prayer. The gorgeous self-made millionaire was no mere silent partner. He was six feet of commanding, unadulterated masculinity. Max had no illusions about romance. But he vowed to protect the mother-to-be from the wolves at her door. With her lively spirit and loving nature, she was making the buttoned-down businessman long to break down the walls around his heart. Because falling in love with Tommi was no fairy tale. It was as real—and as good—as it got!

A timeless, utterly charming Christmas fable, beautifully illustrated and destined to become a classic When Paul Auster was asked by The New York Times to write a Christmas story for the Op-Ed page, the result, "Auggie Wren's Christmas Story," led to Auster's collaboration on a film adaptation, Smoke. Now the story has found yet another life in this enchanting illustrated edition with Argentine artist Isol. It begins with a writer's dilemma: he's been asked by The New York Times to write a story that will appear in the paper on Christmas morning. The writer agrees, but he has a problem: How to write an unsentimental Christmas story? He unburdens himself to his friend at his local cigar shop, a colorful character named Auggie Wren. "A Christmas story? Is that all?" Auggie counters. "If you buy me lunch, my friend, I'll tell you the best Christmas story you ever heard. And I guarantee every word of it is true." And an unconventional story it is, involving a lost wallet, a blind woman, and a Christmas dinner. Everything gets turned upside down. What's stealing? What's giving? What's a lie? What's the truth? It's vintage Auster, and pure pleasure: a truly unsentimental but completely affecting tale.

It's time to get Christmassy with this delightful collection of 13 short, warm children's stories. Perfect for kids of any age!